Air cleaner



C. A. WINSLOW Feb. 19, 1929.

AIR CLEANER 6H0: mu

' Feb. 19, 192

C. A. WINSLOW AIR CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0.

Filed March 5, 1924 Feb. 19, 1929.

C. A. WINSLOW AIR CLEANER 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 5, 1924 j fyliz Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

CHARLES A. WINBLOW, OF VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA.

AIR CLEANER.

Application filed March 5, 1924. serial No. 697,046.

The present invention has for its object to remove foreign particles from air and thereby prevent premature wearing of the working parts of engines, etc. due to abrasive action, thereby being of especial advantage in the operation of internal combustion engines utilized for driving vehicles, with the result that dust is eliminated from the air drawn into the carburetor and supplied to the engine with the admixture of fuel whereby to drive the same.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without dcparting from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application:

Figure 1 is a side view of an air cleaning 26 device embodying the invention,

Figure2 is a sectional view thereof,-

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, a

Figure4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, I

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the filter,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the air Figure 7 is an elevational view of the lower portion of the filter,

Figure 8 is an elevational view of a modification, parts being broken away,

Figure 9 is a sectional View on the'line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view on the line 10-1O of Figure 4 of a portion of the casing provided with the air inlet showing the construction whereby the incoming air is deflected into the liquid, and

Figure 11 is a vertical central sectional view of a further modification.

Corresponding and like arts are referre to in the following descrlptionand designated in the'several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The device comprises a shell or. casing which is closed at its top by means of a cap 2 and at its lower end by a conical or tapermg bottom 3, said casing preferably comprising separable sections 1 and 1', whereby provision is had for cleaning the device as occasion may require. A nozzle 4 connects with a side of the shell or casing intermediate the ends thereof and is preferably disposed tangentially thereto, whereby. air drawn into the shell through the nozzle receives a whirling motion. .A collar 5 connects with the center of the cap 2 and draws the air axially from theshell. The nozzle 4 opens into the atmosphere whereas the collar 5 is adapted to be connected to the air intake of a carburetor, such as generally provided for an internal combustion engine. 7

A screen 6 is located within the shell or casing 1 and is provided at its lower end with a screen bottom 7 and a spreader 8 which forms a support therefor by engaging the upper portion of the tapering bottom 3. The

spreader 8 flares and preferably consists offoraminous sheet metal, the lower outer edge of which is notched as indicated at 9. A lining 10 of felt or other suitable material covers the inner or lower side of the cap 2 and the upper edge of the separating screen is in contact therewith. As shown most clearly in Figure 2, the screen 6 is .of conical form and disposed centrally within the shell, whereby the space 11 formed between the shell and.

screen tapers and is enlarged opposite the inlet 4 and is contracted towards its upper end.

A filter is disposed within the screen 6 and ma consist of hair, felt or other suitable material 12 and confining shells 13 and 14. This filter admits of the ready passage of air therethrough, but arrests dust or other foreign particles contained therein. This filter ,extends from the top to the bottom of the screen 6 and rests upon the bottom 7 thereof. The

lining 10 closes the top of the space formed between the shells 13 and 14 which preferably consist of wire fabric. A screen 15 is arranged between the screen 6 and the outer shell 13 of the filter and serves further to eliminate dust and like-foreign matter from the incomingair.

The tapering. bottom 3 may be formed with k "a rim or band 16 which slips upon the lower section 1 of the casing and which is remov able for cleaning or other purpose. Catches- 17 hold the bottom 3 in place and other catches 18 hold the sections 1 and 1 in place when a 1 fitted together.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 and-' 9, the bottom 3 is formed with the lower section 1 and the screens 6 and 15 and the filter 12 are of cylindrical form, otherwise the remaining parts are substantially the same as herein described andshown in the other views. The screen 6 has tongues 19 partly cut and pressed outwardly therefrom and inclined to deflect the air in a reverse di 'rection to its travel through the space 11;

' In practice, the air outlet 5 of the device is connected to the air inlet of the carburetor of an internal combustion engine and when the latter is in operation, the air supplied to the carburetor is drawn into the device through the inlet 4, the dust and other imzle 4 is constructed to deflect the incoming air into such liquid whereby to greatly assist in the separation of the impurities from the air. A cap 20 closes the lower end of the tapering bottom 3 and may be removed to clean the device when required. 7

In the modification shown in Figure 11, the casing l is continuous and is provided with a tapering bottom 3 and a removable cap 2. The spreader 8 rests upon the bottom 8 and supports the filter and the two screens 6 and 15, the filter comprising the shells 13 and 14 and the filtering material12 therebetween. The bottom 3 is provided with a cap 20 which carries a nozzle 21 which extends into the lower enlarged end of a centrally disposed pipe 22 which passes axially through the: filter and terminates at its upper end in a plurality of outlets 23 which extend through the enlargement "24: of the collar 5 associated with the cap 2. The

' spreader 8 is strengthened by a support 25 which is interposed between the bottom 7 and the bottom 3. A ring 10 of felt or analogous material is confined between plates 26 and 27, the latter being flanged to engage the upper edge portions of the shells 13 and 14. The plate 26 is provided at its outer edge with a portion V-shaped in cross-section 28 which extends between the upper ends of the screens 6 and 15, the inner wall of the portion V- 'shaped in cross-section being provided with a plurality of openings 29 and 30 which communicate with the spaces upon opposite sides of the screen 15. The inner or delivery portion of the nozzle 1 is flattened, as indicated at 4:, and tends downwardly to cause the incoming air to pass through the liquid conin the lower portion of the casing 1, whereby to facilitate the removal of impurities.

through the venturi 31 of the pipe 22 by the augmented velocity of the air escaping from the nozzle 21. The air and liquid passing upwardly through the pipe 22' is discharged through the outlet 23' and is distributed thereby throughout the upper portion of the casing and passes through the openings 29 and 30 alon the outer sides of the filter and screen 15, thereby removing accumulations th efrom, the liquid collecting at the bottom f the casing and the air passing through the filter and out through the outlet 5. The level of theliquid in the lower portion of the casing 1 is normally below the inlet of the nozzle 1 and just below the level of the outlet of the nozzle 2]., hence the surplus will pass off through the nozzle 21 when engine is stopped. In Figures 2, 8 and 11 the normal level of the liquid is shown by the line 32 in each of said figures.

In all of the forms herein shown, the screen 6 is provided with deflectors 19 on its exterior inclined or feathered in the direction in which the incoming air currents are whirling.v As the air currents approach this screen their velocity is reduced and when they pass through the mclined deflectors he direction of the air currents is entirely reversed, so that upon emerging from the opposite side of the screen the air is impelled in the opposite direction. This reversal in the direction of the whirling air currents brings about a separation of the heavier particles before the air enters the filtering medium. The air next passes through the openings in the screen 15 and this will have the eflect of checking any whirling motion of the air and directing it radially into the 'filtering material, which is preferable to having it traveling inia circular or spiral path when coming in contact with the filtering material.

In all the forms herein shown, the incoming air will impart a swirling motion to the liquid in the lower portion of the casing, and inasmuch as there is a space between the filtering medium and the wallof the vessel or casing, the liquid will be caused to rise up in a spray along the walls of the Vessel so as to wet and wash the walls of the filtering material throughout their length. In a small size filter, suflicient liquid can be raised in this manner to moisten and wash the filtering medium without'the use of the air-lift pump shown in Fig. 11.

Where a liquid such as oilis used, the whirling action of the incoming air will cause the liquid to froth, and this 'i'roth will rise and fill the space between the filter and the surrounding vessel, where it comes in contactwith the dust-laden air. The froth will When the device is in active operation aimeadily adhere to the solid particles, and drawnupwardly through the nozzle 21 causes facilitate free separation from the air. In

the liquid to pass therewith upwardly through the pipe 22, said liquid being drawn practice the entire area surrounding the filter 12 will be filled with froth, and the air in passing therethrough will be relieved of a considerable portion of the dirt or dust.

It is to be noted that the nozzle 21 functions as an injector or air-lift pump.

What is claimed is:

1. An air separator comprising a shell having a tapering detachable bottom and provided with a side air inlet and a top air outlet, a separating screen disposed centrally within the shell and having a flared rim at its bottom supported upon the bottom of the shell, and a filter within the separating screen consisting of filtering material confined between shells. r

2. vAn air separator, comprising a casing having a side air inlet and a top air outlet, a. perforated spreader in the lower portion of the casing, a screen mounted upon the spreader, a second screen within the first mentioned screen, and a filter within the second screen.

3. An air separator of the' character specified, comprising a casing having a lateral air inlet and a centrally disposed air outlet, a centrally disposed filter within the casing, and a' pipe passing through the filter and terminating at its upper end in lateral outlets constituting a distributor and provided at its lower end with a venturi and nozzle which constitute an injectorl i 4'. An air separator of-the character speci fied, comprising a casing having a lateral air inletand a centrally disposed air outlet, a centrally disposed filter within the casing, a screen surrounding the filter-and a pipe passing through the filter and terminating at its upper end in lateral outlets constituting a distributor and provided at its lower end with a venturi and nozzle which constitute an injector, and an annular vessel V-shaped in cross-section at the top of the casing and having openings upon-opposite sides of the screen whereby the liquid discharged by the distributor will gravitate along the sides of the filter and screen, the liquid collecting at the bottom of the casing and the air passing through the filter and outlet of the casing.

5. An air cleaner comprising a casing adapted to contain a well of liquid in its lower portion, and having an outlet at its upper end for connection wit-l1 an air current inducing means, inlet means for admitting outside air into said casing in contact with with the liquid in the well, so as to agitate the liquid and cause it to rise in the form of froth along the walls of the casing, and a vertically disposed hollow filtering element between the inlet and outlet of the casing spaced from the side walls of the casing, whereby the air is caused to pass through the froth before passing through the filtering element.

6. An air cleaner comprising a casing adapted to contain a well of liquid in its lower portion and having an outlet at its upper end for connection with a current inducing means, inlet means for admitting outside air into said casing in contact with the liquid in the well so as to agitate the liquid and cause it to rise in the form of froth along the walls of the casing, and a vertically disposed inverted conical filter arranged in the casing between the inlet and outlet.

7 An air cleaner comprising a casing adapted to contain a well of liquid in its lower portion and having an outlet at its upper end for connection with a suction device, air inlet means, a-filtering element disposed between the inlet and outlet and spaced above the normal level of the liquid in the bottom of the casing, and means for imparting a whirling movement to the incoming air and bringing it into contact with the liquid, so as to cause the latter to froth and rise ,into contact with the filter for moistening adapted to contain a quantity of liquid and provided with an air inlet and an air outlet, a filter arranged within the casing between the inlet and out-let, a distributor above the filter, and an air lift pump adapted during the use of the cleaner to elevate the liqui to the distributer.

9. An air cleaner comprising a casing, 21

filter located within and extending longitudinally of the casing and spaced from the lateral wall thereof, said casing being adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, an inlet communicating with the space between said lateral wall and filter arid adapted to deliver air to said space under a whirling impulse, an outlet for the air passing through the filter, and an air lift pump adapted during the use of the cleaner to elevate the liquid to a point from which it will flow down the filter.

10. An air cleaner comprising a casing adapted to contain a quantity of liquid,.a conical filter located within and spaced from the lateral wall of the casing, an air inlet communicating with the space between said lateral wall and filter and adapted to deliver air to said space under a whirling impulse,

an outlet for the air passing through the fil ter, and an air lift pump adapted during the use of the cleaner to elevate the liquid to a point from which it will flow down the filter.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES A. WINSLOW. 

